Payaza, a pan-African financial infrastructure company, has secured its third investment-grade credit rating after receiving a Bbb rating from Agusto & Co., one of Africa’s most respected credit rating agencies. 

This latest endorsement follows earlier ratings from Global Credit Ratings (GCR), an affiliate of Moody’s, and Nigeria’s DataPro, making Payaza one of the very few fintech firms on the continent to attain a triple-rated status.

This recognition is a major milestone not just for Payaza as a corporate entity, but also for the African fintech space at large. 

It demonstrates that African-grown startups can meet, and even exceed, international standards of governance, compliance, and financial discipline. In a space often plagued by aggressive but unstructured growth, Payaza’s achievement stands out as a model of responsible leadership.

Beyond its corporate ratings, Payaza’s impact on the ground, particularly in Ghana, has been equally significant. Since entering the Ghanaian market, the company has not only built robust infrastructure for digital payments and collections but has also actively invested in grassroots development. 

One such initiative is SME Thrive, a Payaza-led programme supporting small businesses and student entrepreneurs through funding, mentorship, and tailored payment solutions. 

The company says these efforts prove that its vision for pan-African fintech leadership isn’t just theoretical—it’s actively being realised through practical solutions for everyday merchants and communities.

In 2024, Payaza began a strategic transformation from a regional payments provider to a global infrastructure player. It secured approval from the FMDQ Exchange to raise ₦50 billion—approximately $35 million—under a commercial paper programme. 

This marked the largest approval of its kind ever granted to a Nigerian fintech. Payaza issued the first and second series under the programme in December 2024, raising ₦14.97 billion in full and ahead of schedule by June 2025. 

The second tranche of ₦5.36 billion is expected to follow suit. 

Notably, these funds were raised through internally generated revenue—a rare feat in emerging markets—highlighting Payaza’s strong financial footing.

According to Seyi Ebenezer, Chief Executive Officer of Payaza Africa, the Agusto & Co. rating affirms not just the company’s internal governance, but also Nigeria’s ability to produce globally relevant and financially sound fintech players. 

He notes that for years, African startups have been viewed through the lens of potential alone. 

Now, companies like Payaza are proving that performance can match ambition.